MURFREESBORO— Northside Baptist Church won’t offer a fireworks show at its Independence Day celebration today because city officials said that would violate the law.
“We had been doing fireworks in excess of 14 years,” said David Bramble, the associate pastor at the church at 655 West Thompson Lane. “We have been using professional fireworks companies. I believe this would have been our 11th year with Pyro Shows. We use the same professional fireworks company that’s used by the city.”
Bramble, though, found out about a month ago that the company was not able to obtain another permit from the Murfreesboro Fire Department.
A phone message was left Friday with Assistant Fire Chief Allen Swader, the department’s spokesman, but he was not available for comment.
Festival will go on
The church, which averages about 800 to 900 in attendance each Sunday, is located in north Murfreesboro, not far from Siegel High School. The congregation had a budget of $20,000 for this year’s celebration, including $10,000 to cover the fireworks show. They’ll still have other festivities, beginning at 5 p.m., but without the fireworks.
Bramble said the fireworks show has been popular for the neighborhood and community, with about 3,000 people on the church campus and another 2,000 nearby taking in the annual display.
“They would fill all of our grounds, as well as our parking lot, and they’d fill the parking lot at Siegel High,” Bramble said.
The church typically has sent out postcards to notify residents within a three-mile radius about the event.
“Many of our neighbors enjoyed that, too,” said Bramble, adding that many of them would have cookouts in their own yard while watching the display. “They’d call up each year, so they can plan their family activities, as well.”
Bramble hopes the event will still be successful .
“It is certainly disappointing, but at the same time we are celebrating our citizenship so we therefore we want to make sure we are good citizens and obey all of the city regulations,” Bramble said. “We’re still celebrating with food and activities … We’ll have to see what that does to our crowd this year.”
Those hoping to see fireworks can attend the city’s official Celebration Under the Stars event Monday.
Rules steer shows toward parks
“The city does a wonderful fireworks show,” Bramble said. “We are not looking to compete with that.”
The fireworks issue involves a 1995 ordinance that regulates fireworks and requires those having displays to adhere to a state law on shows being a safe distance from neighbors, city spokesman Chris Shofner said
“A lot of it has to do with safety,” said Shofner, noting that only parks are zoned for such fireworks shows. “Parks are generally not that close to heavy developments. Being real close to neighborhoods presents a safety issue.”
Church member Kevin Wax served on the Murfreesboro City Council when the ordinance passed and questions why officials changed their view of enforcement 16 years later.
“Why has the city approved us year after year if it wasn’t kosher or correct?” asked Wax, who is the chairman of the deacons at Northside Baptist and teaches adult Sunday school.
“We think the permitting process makes sense the way they’ve been doing it.”
Wax contends that the church’s fireworks shows have always been legal.
State law may ban church fireworks
City Planning Director Joseph Aydelott said state law prohibits exploding or igniting fireworks within 600 feet of any church.
“It appears that exploding or igniting fireworks on the church’s property would be in violation of this state law,’’ Aydelott wrote in an email.
Although the church has not persuaded city hall to be flexible about this year’s event, Wax holds no grudge.
“In Scripture, we are commanded to obey the higher authorities, and that’s what we are going to do,” said Wax, who hopes to persuade city leaders to adjust their rules to allow the fireworks show to return to the church next year.